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On September 11, 2001, I was a fourth grade teacher in Jenks, Oklahoma. I was preparing for my day when another teacher ran into my classroom and told me I needed to come to the office to see something. I walked in and saw several staff members encircling a small TV. We all stared at the screen in disbelief. What was happening? Did a commercial jet just hit the World Trade Center? And then a second one?
Why would this happen? What did it mean? Who would do this?
I was confused as I walked back to my classroom. My students began pouring in, so I took a deep breath, put a smile on my face, and tried my best to stay upbeat throughout the day, while so many thoughts raced through my head:
- What was happening outside?
- Were we we safe inside?
- What would this mean for our future?
- I’m getting married in two months, would that still happen?
- Will people even GET married after this?
- Is the world ending?
A parent walked into our class to take her child home. She quietly told me she didn’t know what was happening and just wanted her family to be together.
I did not share with my class what I had seen on the news that morning. I wanted them to hear about it from their parents, in the safety of their home. I felt that parents would know how much, or how little, to share with their children. To my class, it was just another day. To me, it was a day I will never forget.
After class was dismissed and all the kids were gone, I tried to find out what in the world was happening. I did not own a TV, a computer, or a smart phone yet. I had to find out what was happening through phone calls and conversations.
One of the first people I talked to was my dad. He is a pilot and used to fly for American Airlines. He didn’t have answers. No one had answers for days, weeks, and months.
Slowly, stories were shared, miracles were told, and heroes emerged.
Heroes like Todd Beamer, who refused to let the hijackers hit another building. Instead, he and a few others, fought back. I highly recommend the book “Let’s Roll” by Lisa Beamer. It shares Todd Beamer’s story.
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Another hero, Welles Crowther, also known as The Man in the Red Bandana, gave his life getting others out of the Twin Towers. Here’s his fascinating story:
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If you (or your children) are too young to remember 9/11, here is a short overview:
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Another fantastic book is The Only Plane in the Sky. It gathers the stories of many survivors and writes them in chronological order. It was hard to put down! I read the hard copy, then listened to the audiobook. Both were excellent and I highly recommend them to anyone age 15 and up.
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An excellent book for teens is Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. I read this book with my 14-year-old and we both loved it. This novel tells the story of a boy who goes to work with his dad at the World Trade Center on 9/11. You will experience what it may have felt like to take a journey through the World Trade Center and find an escape. It was a powerful book to read!
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I’d love to hear what you remember about 9/11. Please share your reflections and memories in the comment section by clicking on the little icon by the title of this post.
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Though we were all impacted from 9/11, I’m grateful that life continued to move forward. I DID get married two months later, and flights reopened so that we could honeymoon in Mexico.
American did not collapse, but grew stronger. I’m grateful for how our country came together to support and care for each other. It’s a day we will never forget, filled with miracles and heroes worth remembering!
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